Puzzle.



A. N. PRENTISS.

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1917- Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- A. N. PRENTISS.

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1917.

1,23,6990 Baten ted Aug. 28, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

IIIII W 2K thmsses:

ALBERT N. PRENTISS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 2%, 1917.

Application filed July 2, 1917. Serial No. 178,057.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT N. PRENTIss, a citizen of the United States, residing at ,Washington, District of Columbia, have inrented a new and useful Puzzle, of which the following is a specification.

My invention primarily provides a novel appliance'for the exer ise of the mental faculties, thereby giving mental relaxation and amusement, and secondarily provides an agency for stimulating patriotism.

The puzzle relates to that class composed of rotatable members concentrically pivoted, and can be made in a variety of forms. Certain of the members may be either circular or angular in outline and the three national colors may be used to differentiate the ad jacent members in order to carry out the patriotic thought conveyed by the use of the words Do your bit --as the predetermined combination of characters resulting when the puzzle is solved. In solving the puzzle the object arranged for in the form of the puzzle illustrated is to so adjust the members in relation to each other that the characters thereon will spell the words- Do your bitacross the face of the puzzle in a straight line.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of the unsolved puzzle; Fig. 2 discloses one form in which the solution of the puzzle is efi'ccted diametrically across the face; Fig. 3 illustrates the relation of the members to each other; Fig. 4 discloses a form of the puzzle in which the solution is effected across the face of the puzzle in a line parallel with the diameter; and Fig. 5 is a side view showing the manner of joining the various members.

In Fig. 2 the eight members composing the puzzle, in the form illustrated, are designated by the letters a to h, inclusive; and the arrangement of members as illustrated is the only one fulfilling the predetermined requirement that the words-Do your bit be read diametrically across the face of the puzzle. It is seen that member a bears the letters D and T, that member I) is not used in this form of the solution of the puzzle, that member ofurnishes the letter I which would be opposite a letter on member Z) if the latter were necessary or the puzzle arranged to be solved by a sentence composed of an additional letter, that memberd carries the letters 0 and B, that member 0 is not used in this form of the puzzle, that member 7 furnishes the letter Y, member 9 the letter R, and member A bears the letters 0 and U.

In the solution illustrated by the form of the puzzle in Fig. 4, a change in the arrangement of the characters requires that the sentence chosen be read in a line parallel with the diameter instead of coincident therewith, and all of the members are concerned in the solution of the puzzle with the exception of member 7r.

Fig. 3 illustrates the construction of the members in various outlines and perimeters, such as members Z) and c or (Z and c or 7 and g, in combinations of two or more, each of which combinations of members may be exactly circumscribed by the same circle. Circle 2' circumscribes members I) and 0, circle 7' circumscribes members cl and e, and circle Z3, whichjs the periphery of member i also circumscribes member 9.

From the illustrations and descriptions it is manifest that certain angular forms may be used exclusively in the outlining of the forms of the members to effect certain arrangements of the characters, while for other arrangements there are required circular or near circular combined with mem bers having non-circular peripheries, in order to fulfil. the conditions.

I, therefore, claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A puzzle comprising superposed joined members, bearing characters, some of said members having non-circular peripheries, the members adapted to be so arranged that certain characters on opposite sides of the puzzle will combine to express an intelligible idea.

2. A puzzle comprising superposed joined members, bearing characters, some of said members having non-circular peripheries, the members adapted to be arranged so as to bring certain characters into diametrically opposite positions on the face of the puzzle in combining said characters to express predetermined ideas.

3. A puzzle comprising superposed joined members, bearing characters, some of said members having equilateral sides, the members adapted to be arranged so as to bring certain characters into diametrically opposite positions on the face of the puzzle in combining said characters to express predetermined ideas.

4:. A puzzle comprising superposed joined members, bearing characters, some of said members having diverse perimeters but related by combination so that all so related may be circumscribed by the same circle, the members adapted to be arranged so that certain characters on opposite sides of the puzzle Will combine to express an intelligible idea.

5. In a puzzle comprising superposed joined members, bearing characters, the combination of near-circular with non-circular and equilateral members, some of said members having diverse perimeters but related by combination so that all so related may be circumscribed by the same circle, the members adapted to be arranged so that certain characters on opposite sides of the face of the puzzle will combine to express predetermined intelligible ideas.

6. A puzzle comprising superposed oined members, bearing characters, said members having collectively non-circular and circular peripheries, adapted to be so arranged that certain characters on opposite sides of the puzzle will combine to express intelligible ideas.

7 A puzzle comprising superposed joined members, having collectively star-shaped, triangular, quadrangular and circular periphcries, having characters placed on said members in such a way that, in certain relative positions thereof, an upper member will obscure the character on the member thereunder, the members adapted to be arranged so that certain characters on the face of the puzzle Will combine to express an intelligible idea.

8. A puzzle comprising superposed joined members, bearing characters, certain of said members having at least one dimension less than a dimension of the member immediately beneath and at least one dimension equal to a dimension of the member immediately beneath, the members adapted to be arranged so that certain characters on the face of the puzzle Will combine to express intelligible ideas.

9. A puzzle comprising superposed joined members, having collectively star-shaped, triangular, quadrangular and circular peripheries, having character-s placed on said members in such a Way that, in certain relative positions thereof, an upper member Will obscure the character on the member thereunder, the members adapted to form from the characters the WordsDo your bit on the face of the puzzle.

RAY P. TnELE, CHARLES H. MCBRIDE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner -01! Iatenti, Washington, D. G. 

